Martin Schulz, leader of the Socialist group

“I cannot recommend to my group to support Barroso for a second term.”

On the timing of the decision:

“I strongly recommend to the European Union Council not to proceed to designate the European Commission president during the June Council but instead to postpone that extremely sensitive decision.”

Daniel Cohn-Bendit, leader of the Greens/European Free Alliance

On supporting Barroso:

Fact File

A timeline for the appointment of a new Commission

– 18-19 June: EU leaders take political decision to nominate Barroso for a second term. – 23 June: European People’s Party (EPP) and Socialist groups appoint leaders. – 25 June: Meeting of European Parliament political group leaders with Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer in Stockholm. – If discussions in Stockholm indicate Barroso will win backing of most MEPs in a vote on 15 July, EU leaders will take a formal decision to nominate Barroso (possibly by written procedure). – 30 June: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe MEPs appoint a new leader. – 7 July: EPP decision on candidate for president of European Parliament. – 15 July: Barroso appears before the European Parliament. MEPs vote to approve nomination by a simple majority. – End September-early October: Ireland holds referendum on Lisbon treaty. – Once Ireland, Poland and the Czech Republic complete ratification, a decision can be taken by EU leaders to keep the size of the Commission at 27, ie, one per member state. EU leaders nominate list of commissioners. – 29-30 October: EU summit to decide on nomination of commissioners, president of the European Council, high representative and deputy secretary-general of the Council. – November: Hearings for designated commissioners. – November/December: European Parliament plenary vote on European Commission and president (by absolute majority), followed by appointment by EU leaders (by qualified majority). – January 2010. Entry into force of Lisbon treaty.

“We must stop Barroso. President Barroso’s policies have failed the economy, the environment and democracy. We cannot afford five more years of the same.”

On the timing of the decision:

“It would be one thing for the Council to make a political statement in favour of Barroso this week, quite another to make a formal nomination. Europeans need to see the Parliament meet its democratic responsibility and reject any rushed rubber-stamping of his appointment in July.”

Joseph Daul, leader of the European People’s Party (EPP)

On supporting Barroso:

“As stated by the German Chancellor and by President Barroso himself, we want Mr Barroso and a programme.”

On the timing of the decision:

“To prevent a vacuum at the centre of Europe, we need a decision on the Commission president as soon as possible, at the July session of the European Parliament.”

Graham Watson, leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe

On supporting Barroso:

“The Liberals and Democrats would be keen to meet any prospective candidate for the Commission presidency who is…bolder and more pro-active than in the past.”

On the timing of the decision:

“If the Council fails to take a formal position on its nomination for Commission president, Parliament should not vote in July.”